News on the grants and awards that fuel scientific work. Covers federal grants, foundation awards, gene-editing and disease programs, and shifts in funding policy.
The BIAL Foundation's new call for grants increases the maximum support amount to €60,000 per project. The program supports research in Psychophysiology and Parapsychology, building on a history of funding over 1600 researchers from 29 countries.
A study by CNIC scientists has identified a key role for the MKK3/6–p38γ/δ signaling pathway in cardiac hypertrophy. Inhibition of p38α promotes an unexpected activation of the other branch of the pathway, consisting of the proteins MKK3, p38γ, and p38δ. This activation induces another key pathway in cardiac hypertrophy, the mTOR pathway.
Peter Adams and Bing Ren will map senescent cells in five tissues using state-of-the-art technologies to analyze gene expression and chromatin structures. The project seeks to reveal how and where aging cells accumulate, ultimately generating an atlas that can help develop strategies to prevent and treat age-related diseases.
A small clinical trial found that OP-101 substantially reduced the risk of death and need for a ventilator in severely ill adults hospitalized with COVID-19. The treatment also showed significant benefits in decreasing biomarkers of inflammation and brain injury, suggesting potential for treating long COVID-related symptoms.
Associate Professor Angelina Anani has won a $300,000 career development grant from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration to support her research on mine planning and operations. She plans to use virtual and augmented reality technologies to optimize industry decisions and minimize risks.
The project seeks to create accessible maker programs for blind and visually impaired learners, developing training materials for librarians and maker professionals. The initiative aims to enhance BVI learners' computational thinking skills and STEM interests, while helping librarians become more confident in working with BVI populations.
The €15.7 million AUFRANDE project aims to generate industry-relevant research by employing 64 early career doctoral researchers from French and Australian universities. Researchers will receive training and support, including annual workshops and group events, to foster high-performing early-stage researchers.
A research group from Tokyo University of Science has discovered molecular features that govern the filling process at nanoscales, enabling finer resolutions in ultraviolet nanoimprint lithography. The findings provide valuable insights for guiding the selection and design of optimized resists for sub-10 nm resolution.
Researchers will design and distribute two new types of miniscopes, enabling deeper brain observations. The devices will be light enough for rodents, unlocking insights into neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers from Aarhus University are developing a new approach to turbulence modelling using physics-constrained machine learning to accurately simulate complex turbulent systems. The goal is to reduce computational costs while maintaining accuracy, enabling more efficient designs and predictions in various fields.
A new study is providing training to mothers of infants at the Linda Ray Intervention Center, equipping them with a critical caregiving skill. The program focuses on infant-directed singing, which has been shown to help babies regulate their emotions and develop self-regulation skills.
The University of Illinois School is awarding a grant to explore the use of conversational AI in libraries, aiming to strengthen engagement between libraries and diverse audiences. The project will investigate ways to democratize conversational AI for librarians, enhancing workforce development and community service.
The National MS Society has launched 40 new research awards to explore myelin repair, clues to MS progression, and wellness strategies to move closer to a world free of MS. The $19 million investment is part of a projected total of nearly $30 million in 2022 to support over 250 new research studies.
A new study uses high-resolution regional model experiments to explore how lake surface temperatures may affect the climate of the Great Lakes region. Small differences in lake surface temperatures can have a significant impact on summer climate and fuel extreme weather events.
The $205 million investment from international partners will accelerate the telescope's construction, enabling groundbreaking studies on dark matter, dark energy, and the formation of the Universe. The Giant Magellan Telescope will boast unprecedented light-collecting capacity and spatial resolution.
Research suggests that up to 5.6% of patients may experience persistent smell loss, while 4.4% may not recover their sense of taste after COVID-19 infection, with recovery rates increasing over time.
The American Academy of Family Physicians has been awarded a $31 million funding to conduct a large-scale study on the comparative effectiveness of asthma treatments. The study will focus on inhaled steroids and specific antibiotics, alone or together, in over 3,000 patients with asthma aged 12 and over.
The Electrifying Technical Organic Syntheses (ETOS) research network, coordinated by JGU, will be funded from BMBF to support the development of new techniques for organic chemical synthesis using electrolysis. The cluster aims to promote forward-looking innovations and secure technological sovereignty.
University of Arizona researchers Erin Ratcliff and Roger Angel are working on scaling paper-thin solar technology using perovskites. They aim to develop a low-cost quality control method to detect defects during manufacturing, enabling the production of robust and high-quality perovskite-based photovoltaics.
Researchers are investigating new methods to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cement manufacturing, aiming to create a carbon-negative replacement for portland cement. A sustainable way to produce calcium hydroxide is also being developed, which could significantly lower the carbon footprint of the existing cement industry.
A multidisciplinary team at UVA Health will use deep brain stimulation to treat refractory neuropathic pain, aiming to modulate pain signals from the insula. The study may shed light on the fundamental nature of pain and identify biological indicators for effective treatment.
Researchers recover data from sensors swept away by massive underwater avalanche in Congo Canyon, providing new insights into sediment flow and seabed cable breakages. The study reveals the hazards of powerful turbidity currents and their impact on global communications.
MU researchers have identified specific mutations in the Omicron variant's spike protein that help it evade existing antibodies from vaccines or previous COVID-19 infections. These findings can inform developers of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, which may need to target different parts of the virus to produce effective outcomes.
Researchers at UNO and UNL are using machine learning to investigate the metabolic cost of different phases of the gait cycle across different age groups. The goal is to create practical applications for gait rehabilitation, such as designing improved assistive devices.
A three-year study found that librarian-teacher co-teaching significantly facilitates learner-centered instruction, such as maker learning and inquiry learning, across all levels of schools. School librarians played a crucial role in making these individualized learning opportunities possible by using various instructional methods.
Researchers aim to develop a gene therapy that could suppress HIV replication and eliminate the need for life-long antiretroviral therapy. The study uses an AAV vector to produce leronlimab, a monoclonal antibody blocking HIV entry into immune cells.
Swansea University's nanomaterials researcher, Professor Christian Klinke, has secured £250,000 in funding to recruit early-career scientists. The new appointments will strengthen the research group's focus on nanocrystalline materials used in solar cells and LEDs.
A team of WVU researchers has developed a biodegradable composite material using cotton fibers from recycled mattresses, with the goal of replacing single-use plastics. The new material will be created through 3D printing and can be used to produce various consumer products, such as beverage straws and disposable packaging.
A new £25m fund will bring together UK researchers, universities, and businesses to use design to address the climate crisis. The programme will focus on innovative design solutions to shift dependence on fossil fuels and support the British Government's commitment to decarbonise the economy.
Indiana University researchers are using a mouse model to study the effects of cannabis use during adolescence, which could impair working memory and increase the risk of psychosis later in life. The $2M NIH grant aims to develop therapies to treat adverse effects.
The HenTrack project aims to breed healthier and more robust laying hens for cage-free housing while maintaining productivity. The project will monitor the behavior, health, and welfare of individual hens using novel tracking methods.
Liu's three-year grant will pursue protein-derived cofactor studies to improve understanding of amino acids and their role in metabolism. The research aims to gain a quicker and more thorough understanding of amino acid function and purpose.
The European Federation for Science Journalism announces the judging panel for its 2022 Climate Investigation Grant, comprising journalist and scientist experts in climate change and storytelling. The grant aims to support ambitious field investigations on climate topics across eight European countries.
A MU researcher has earned a federal grant from the United States Fulbright Program to conduct community engagement research in South Africa. He aims to assist disengaged, vulnerable youth in rural areas through community development initiatives.
Rice University physicists Frank Geurts and Wei Li have received a $1.8 million grant from the Department of Energy to conduct research on relativistic heavy-ion physics at both Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Their work focuses on creating quark-gluon plasmas, a
The project aims to develop expansive and interdisciplinary data fluencies combining arts and humanities with critical work in the data sciences. Researchers will cultivate the next generation of end-users, innovators, humanists and critical thinkers to create technologies that tell more diverse stories and increase equitable access.
A UK-based research project aims to investigate the specific threats posed to female garment workers in supply chains globally. The four-year study will examine garment manufacturing in the midlands, UK, and in Cambodia, Ethiopia, and Jordan.
Researchers use machine learning to automatically analyze Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction (RHEED) data, enabling faster and more efficient discovery of new materials. The study focused on surface superstructures in thin-film silicon surfaces and identified optimal synthesis conditions using non-negative matrix factorization.
The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture's REM Lab uses eye-tracking technology to study consumer preferences, product evaluations, and behavior. The lab aims to develop new solutions in multiple agricultural industries, with potential applications in marketing design and product displays.
PCORI announces up to $63M for studies on reducing maternal health inequities and $50M for telehealth in managing multiple chronic conditions. The Strategic Plan guides future funding, stakeholder engagement, and infrastructure investments.
Alexander Austregesilo, a staff scientist at Jefferson Lab, has been awarded a $2.5 million grant to study novel forms of nuclear matter within the spectrum of hadrons. He aims to develop new tools and resources to analyze large datasets generated by the GlueX experiment in search of exotic particles or hints of their existence.
The German Research Foundation has granted funding to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and its strategic alliance partners for four years. Researchers in materials sciences, biophysics, and medicine are working on three collaborative projects with a total funding volume of EUR 35 million. The focus is on developing multiscale ...
A team led by UMass Amherst food scientist Matthew Moore has received a $750,000 grant to develop portable biosensors for detecting noroviruses and mycotoxins in foods. The technology aims to provide quick, cheap, and effective detection without lab testing.
Researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have achieved a breakthrough in using chromium compounds for efficient green-to-blue photon upconversion. This process can expand the use of low-energy sunlight in solar cells and photochemical reactions, reducing environmental impacts associated with rare metal extraction.
The University of Jyväskylä's SAFE Project aims to replace insecure passwords with a more secure authentication method. The project, funded by Business Finland, has global market potential and promises seamless access to all systems worldwide.
The study collected sensor data and conducted surveys to understand the conditions people experience as they move about their daily life. The dataset provided a granular picture of temperature exposure, revealing that participants were well-situated to maintain low temperatures, but still faced dangerously hot environments.
FAPESP will host the Executive Secretariat of the Global Research Council (GRC) starting in September, reflecting its prestige among funding agencies worldwide. The GRC aims to create multilateral mechanisms for funding research and innovation.
A study found that high fat diets and synthetic substances in unregulated athletic performance enhancers can activate a receptor accelerating the progression of pre-cancerous lesions to pancreatic cancer in mice. Limiting exposure to these substances may help prevent pancreatic cancer development.
West Virginia University researchers are exploring the symbiotic relationship between Miscanthus x giganteus and its microbes to improve the crop's resilience in unpredictable climates. The goal is to determine the best way to manage the plant on marginal soil, which could help restore damaged soils and mitigate climate change.
A new game called QuitBet is being tested to help people quit smoking by providing a fun and engaging way to adopt healthy habits. Players commit to quitting smoking over four weeks and bet $30, with winners typically doubling their money.
Two graduate students from Virginia universities selected to receive support through the Office of Science Graduate Student Research program will conduct research at Jefferson Lab. The program provides world-class training and access to state-of-the-art facilities, aiming to prepare students for critical jobs in science and innovation.
Racial gaps in NIH grant funding are attributed to the subjective review process and lack of diversity among reviewers. The NIH has proposed initiatives to address these disparities, including appointing diversity officers and allocating funding for research on health equity and health disparities.
A new project led by University of Illinois professor Jingrui He seeks to detect and predict insider threats in large organizations. The team will use multimodal data to identify outliers and rare category types of insider threats and propose dynamic update techniques.
Researchers at USC have developed an innovative treatment for prostate cancer, known as synthetic immune receptor (SIR-T) therapy, which has shown promising results in preclinical studies. The new technology was adapted from CAR-T therapy and aims to revolutionize the treatment of not only prostate cancer but also other cancers.
A team led by Flinders University archaeologist Dr Martin Polkinghorne is reuniting ancient ceramics with their ships of origin, developing a narrative of ancient global trade. The research project will also promote cultural value and awareness among communities in Indonesia and Australia.
A physicist at TU Graz has developed a three-in-one hybrid material that reacts to force, moisture and temperature with high spatial resolution. The smart skin has potential applications in robotics, smart prosthetics and healthcare, and its production can be easily scaled and implemented.
Plazi receives EUR 1.5 million grant from Arcadia Fund to develop Biodiversity Literature Repository (BLR), providing access to over 750,000 taxonomic treatments, figures, and material citations. The project aims to liberate data from scientific publications, making it FAIR and open for researchers.
A major new study is investigating the effects of beavers on the Arctic landscape, other animals, and local Indigenous communities. The project aims to understand the complex interlinkages between ecological and sociological changes as beaver numbers increase.
Benjamin Gatling plans to conduct a survey and inventory of the materials, train in best practices, and purchase equipment. The project aims to preserve and digitize the complete collection, offering a unique window into Soviet Central Asia's cultural patrimony.
Researchers aim to overcome physical limitations of telecommunications by creating immediate response regardless of distance. The eTouch project leverages Model-Mediated Teleoperation and Edge Computing to enable haptic feedback perception without noticeable delay.